Thrify Gifty Santas Challenge 2012

mum2one

Santas Challenge - February -

Mothers Day

The next event on the calender is Mothers Day, a lot of the shops getting in their items already, (sure some have been in since Xmas), - do you need to make any cards, presents.

Easter Eggs
This feels so weird saying Easter Eggs in February, but again the shops are forcing them onto us, and it seems to be breaking out into a price war.
If you can trust yourself not to eat them all before Easter :whistle:, if you do Easter egg hunt worth looking at Pound shops, - last week I got box of 3 mini Caramel eggs for £1, in Sainsburys the same were £1.55.

I am being good and cutting the list back, be 1 each for me, mum, dad, 2 x Miss Hoodie, then I'm doing her a little pick + mix of small eggs, and get dad a bag of cadburys mini eggs. The plan is in place!

Miss Hoodies corner
Miss Hoodies original suggestion was would anyone like her to help tidy her bedroom up, got to give her 10/10 for trying!

She has come up with the kitchen cupboards, do you really need all those containers, hands up those who kept the sweet containers from xmas incase we needed them. - We comprimise here, keep them for a month, then if your not going to use them let them go.

Bargain Hunting
As we're approaching March, its in like a lion, out like a lamb, but schools and other venues are starting their table top sales, car boots etc, so if your brave start seeing if there is anything that you could re-cycle, or if you like a bargain, then wrap up warm and have fun.
Miss Hoodie even bartered something down from 50p to 20p, if she comes with us, I give her £2 and she will barter down to the last penny. Think she had a good teacher!

Me Corner
Find some me time this month, even if its long soak in the bath with a book, or that TV programme with "do not distrub" signs all around the house.
Remember that we work hard bargain hunting, making, doing, recycling, everything, I'm sure there are some men that think Xmas presents get brought by Santa..

Look our for special offers
This weekend is free listing on ebay, it looks like its at least a monthly event, I personally sit on the fence, I think as a buyer your up against people selling the same thing, so you may not get as high as a price you wanted, but on the other side of the coin, as a buyer, your going to have better choice.

Halfcost - for 1 week only theres free p+p when you spend £10. (trying to be good!!)

Hopefully its been quite gentle this month! xx

rufusdog52

Here goes to what I need to do for this month

Santas Challenge - February -

Mothers Day

My Mum is no longer with us but we do take flowers up to the crem each year, then OH goes up to see his own Mum and I come home to see if any of the kids bother coming round lol.

Easter Eggs
Funnily enough OH came in with a couple of these yesterday for YD. We usually get her a few of the smaller ones and they last her a while. Will need to get one each for the grandchildren, luckily the baby is too small for easter eggs this year.

Miss Hoodies corner

hasHad to laugh at her wanting us to come and help do her room. I think I will have to do this one, we have a cupboard full of ice cream cartons that I don't like to chuck away. I will take them down in the cellar as they come in handy for mixing up polyfilla or similar when we are decorating. Others can go what we dont use. My bottom cupboard needs sorting and cleaning out too, I cant reach to get down there though so will have to have one of the kids in to do it for me.

Bargain Hunting
Last year we only went to one boot fair and even then it was spitting by the time we got there and OH wouldnt get out of the car and I was so bored walking round on my own. Thing is our boot fairs are just that bit to far away for me to walk to so need him to take me in the car. Might have more chance to go this year if his Mum isnt coming down so often to stay as she sticks her nose up at boot fairs and charity shops lol so OH wont take me if she is down and last year I think she came every weekend he was off.

Me Corner
This made me laugh about men not thinking about Christmas presents. My OH is one of the world's worst at scoffing when I am making pennies on my surveys etc, and takes the mickey out of me going up sewing things. He didn't mind last year though when a month before Christmas he told me to give him a list of what we need to get present wise and we had about 4 things on it and all for his side of the family. Also he doesnt realise how much work goes into making some of the things. I went up to make a bag yesterday for my sister for Christmas. He was doing house work while I was doing it (was all done in the morning when I got up but he has to re do it again) then I came down to lunch and it was nearly finished, just a bit of hand sewing left to do on it. After lunch he said he was going out to wash the car, what was I doing, he hoped I wasnt going to sit about all afternoon doing nothing!! Bl00dy cheek haha.

Look our for special offers
I have been scouring Ebay for presents. I am looking to get something for my Granddaughter for her birthday. Not sure what to get this year. She will be 8 this year so not sure if she is a bit big for dolls now.

Halfcost - for 1 week only theres free p+p when you spend £10.
I had a quick look yesterday, couldn't see anything I wanted though.

Hopefully its been quite gentle this month! xx

Great challenge Mum2one, thanks a lot xx

SugarSpun

Mothers Day

I have a card and gift for my mother ... but don't know when it is. Help please?

Miss Hoodies corner

In Miss Hoodie's honour I will throw out any boxes/lids without partners.

Bargain Hunting

All the shopping is done except for my Husbeast's Christmas gift, and it'll take up loads of room so I'm not buying it till October/November.

Me Corner

I am planning to have a morning to myself once my toddler is settled at nursery I am thinking a bath and maybe dye my hair.

Look our for special offers

Staples had a free table fireplace offer I took advantage of. Hopefully it'll make my living room look warmer next winter

rufusdog52

Mother's Day is the 18th Sugarspun (March)

mary-op

Hello all :j

mum2one - challenges I think I'm on top of........almost

Mothers Day - made card -need to get lottery tickets for that weekend

Miss Hoddies corner - I need prompting for this sort of thing............endless boxes that ''might be useful''..........they can be useful for recycling

Bargain hunting - always on the lookout if I get the chance to root round charity shops. Nothing so far but quite a few ''unwanted pressies'' I can upcycle

Easter - cards all done but not sure what to do about eggs............think teenage grandkids will get a lottery ticket and little grandson an egg

Me Corner - I try and get as much time for ''me'' as I can.

Not done a great deal today (bit of ''me time'' ) except make a few cards/notelets so I don't run short like I nearly did yesterday. Phone call from BIL to tell us nephew is now dad to a little girl so hastily made a card for her. Now I've got a few ''standbys'' I can add bits to for the occassion.

Letter from hospital complaints bod today to tell me no joy with any ''financial remedy''. Took nearly 6 months to look into my complaint initially and just over a week to decide on this part..............then I'm told ''file now closed'' !! Well they can jolly well open it again..........there are still issues need resolving.
Been told if I need to take it further to contact solicitor. Our solicitor will do '';no win no fee'' if she thinks it warrants it but it means copying all the paperwork from last March and I'm not sure I can cope with the stress of it all to be honest.

Hope you're all ok:)

rufusdog52

Shame about the letter Mary xx

We are going to a christening later this month and I was panicking not knowing what to wear as I don't have any trousers (don't wear dresses or skirts ever lol), just jeans and I only have trainers for my feet. We went up town this morning and OH said we would go and have a look round the shops, went in New Look and tried on some trousers but I didnt like them, when I came out of the changing room Oh had found a nice cardigan and top and said if I wanted it he would buy it as early birthday present (next month). We got near the till and he said to pick out a nice necklace to go with it then got to till and lady said the jewelery was buy one get one free so got another necklace too.

Had a look at some other shops but couldnt find trousers or shoes which is what I wanted most. Came home and I found a pair of trousers in my wardrobe that were about 6 years old but still fitted so I am going to wear them. Tried on the whole outfit but top is a bit on the tight side, I will wear it in the summer in the garden but not out so I had a look through my fabric and found a nice bit that would go wit the other bits and made myself a top out of it (will put a pic on my blog tomorrow). Fabric was given to me so free top. Now I just need a pair of sandals or something for my feet.

mum2one

Rufus, you got spolit with hubby, - the outfit sounds lovely.

Mary - Just thought of you , - rang the GP wed for an appointment, as the new antibiotics I had (only took 2 days) had an allergic reaction.... yes you can have a doctors appointment. GREAT .... Would the 27th March be ok with you! No I could be dead by then. Bit mello dramatic, but had to use epi-pen.

So 9am I had a call, was seen at 11.30am, - came out with 4 more prescriptions, and have now been taken off the asthma nurses books... (says it all!!), need to be seen within 7 days... first appointment was now 29th March. More annoying as the doc says got to go back.

I'm sure I'll be rattling....

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Got dad to tidy out the junk corner in the shed and found 10 empty celebration sweet containers, (not all from this Christmas!), we'd saved over last few yrs, so they are on a months review!!

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Got mother trained on going through the cards, so she has done the list for Mar/Apr, need 1 x nans card for mothers day and 1 special friend bday card.
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Can't believe were in March already, the time is just flying by. Half way through OU assisgment, only another 3 to go!! xx

mary-op

Hello all :j

rufus - better look through my wardrobe and see if there's anything lurking there I'd forgot about. You've reminded me about feet !! I don't possess any decent ''dressy'' footwear, just trainers and boots and sandals. Can't wear anything with a heel since I've had to use sticks so I'll have to search for some flatties and see whats about without paying a fortune.
Looked in the charity shops yesterday but there was nothing -well not my size anyway but I did get some little picture frames.......perfect for my little stitchery mottos and got some fabric bits off the market. Used them as a backing in the frame for the little square of ''stitchery'' to stick on............they look ok............least OH says so.............lol

mum2one - know what you mean about doctors appointments..........anything up to 2 weeks so I always say its an emergency and can go down when surgery's done and see GP then. Wouldn;t if it wasn't something that really needed sorting out but some things just can't wait can they.
If desparate we can always see the nurse and if she thinks GP should have a look she'll fetch him so we manage that way.

Lazy day today - gardening chap came up and did a bit more to knocking down our back shed so we've now a pile of breeze blocks in the garden !! One more wall -and yet more breeze blocks to dispose of - and the shed will be gone :T

Hope you're all ok and been enjoying the sunshine:)

mrs-moneypenny

mary op sorry to hear the hospital is still being awkward
tesco have easter eggs on offer buy1get2free (about £2.50) but sains are about the same slightly bigger eggs and £1 each so only 50p for a little more chocolate.
i will go through the kitchen cupboard and cull some boxes and drinks bottles that have no lids.
got gift wrap and cards step mums already had flowers and chocs when we visited last week
my mum is getting a new answerphone as she needs one
mil is having a new duvet cover so im sorted with all their presents, just need to wrap and deliver.

mary-op

Hello all :j

moneypenny - I'm not too worried about the hospital letter. When I complained I asked for apologies and explanations and I had 5 pages of that. OH still needs to know a bit more than was said, hence asking for a meeting with the 4 boffins involved. Not heard anything yet so I'll phone on Monday.
Empty boxes are brilliant for gift boxes/bags.......I keep the boxes I have the cappacino sachets in, cover them with paper, punch holes in the top, thread ribbon through -job done...............having said that I've not done any this year yet................lol

Hope you're all ok:)